Tip: Extract a subset of data

You may have a large table, but only want to work with a subset it. For example, let's say you have a data set from the Canadian Census containing multiple rows of census data for all the major metropolitan areas of Canada. However, you'd like to work with only the top 5 areas.

CMANAME

Toronto

Vancouver

Edmonton

Calgary

Montreal

Once the large data table is in Fusion Tables, you can create this subset in two ways: filtering or merging. When the list of items you'd like to extract is long, try merging.

Extract by filtering

In the New look, this is quite simple.

Create a filter on the column containing the metropolitan area name. Sort by count and uncheck all other names.

Choose File > Download.

Select "Filtered rows" to obtain the filtered data.

In Classic:

Select View > Filter

Choose the column you'd like to filter on from the first drop-down menu. In this example, it's CMANAME.

Choose In from the operator drop-down menu.

Enter a list of the area names, separated by commas. If the name has more than one word, surround the name with quotes. In this example,

Toronto,Vancouver,Edmonton,Calgary,Montreal

Click Apply.

Select File > Download.

Extract by merging

Use the merge tables feature in Fusion Tables to create a table with just the subset of data that matches your top 5 list.

Create a Fusion Table that is a list of the data you want. Each value that matches rows you want in the final subset should be on a separate row. In our example, create a small .CSV file with a simple list of the cities you care about: